Role models lead the way for budding engineers

A workshop to encourage more girls into engineering has attracted 70 local school pupils in Leeds.

Role models with both technical and non-technical jobs hosted tables at the event, which was organised by Women in Science and Engineering (Wise), Technician Apprenticeship Consortium and the Leeds Wise hub for girls aged 12 to 18.

The idea followed on from research which found that role models were an effective way of breaking down myths and stereotypes about engineering jobs. The role models included an apprentice medical engineer, a building surveyor, and a trainee zoologist.

It was part of the ‘People Like Me’ approach, developed after research found that girls were more likely to engage with jobs in the science, technology, maths and engineering sector if they could relate on a personal level to people in those jobs.

At the event the girls completed a quiz about themselves, then jobs in the sector were suggested to them based on the results.

Have your say

Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Please note comments made online may also be published in the print edition of New Civil Engineer. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.

A subscription to New Civil Engineer...

...offers in-depth analysis of the news that matters, interviews and commentary
from leading industry players and special reports on key events, it’s the resource that helps you make better business decisions.